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7 features of the business market in Indonesia

Indonesia attracts investors from all over the world, as it has a number of advantages that allow it to create and develop technological projects and startups in this country. In this article, we are trying to understand clearly what features you will encounter if you want to do business here.

The main difficulty of doing business in Indonesia is the inflexible legal conditions for foreigners. The path to obtaining licenses and permits is quite long. For example, according to the World Bank's Doing Business report, Indonesia ranks 73rd in terms of ease of doing business. 

To simplify the system, the authorities adopted a new law in 2020, “Omnibus law” — it is aimed at attracting investment and creating additional jobs, which today greatly simplifies access to the local market. But “simplifies” does not mean “easy".

In addition, Omnibus law provides for a completely different approach to doing business — a risk-based business. Now each company is assigned a marker: high, medium and low. For example, a medium—risk business requires standard certification, while a high-risk business requires a business license. Of course, we will still have to face the bureaucratic system, but the flexibility of the authorities in relation to foreign capital demonstrates faster integration than it was before. 

And this is a big step towards democratizing and simplifying the entire system, but despite this, experts and journalists from the Jakarta Post in any case insist on certain forms of doing business. 

To enter the Southeast Asian market, entrepreneurs choose between representing a foreign company and setting up a limited liability company. What is the difference between them? 

Representative Office of a foreign company/ Representative Office (KPPA)

The local representative of your company is only allowed to monitor, link, coordinate, manage and act as an intermediary for the business interests of a foreign company in Indonesia. He is not allowed to participate in the management of the operations of a foreign company in the country, receive any income in the country and participate in agreements or transactions for the sale or purchase of goods and services with an Indonesian company or an Indonesian citizen. Thus, the main foreign company is the only one through which all transactions can be carried out.

It is suitable for companies engaged in marketing research or networking. 

The main drawback: this form has an expiration date, you will not be able to engage in commercial activities for more than 5 years. 

Foreign Investment Company (PT PMA)

This is an investment activity in Indonesia, which is carried out by foreign investors. 

It is suitable for companies that would like to engage in commercial activities in Indonesia directly, but the main disadvantage of this form is the financial entry threshold, since your investment must be at least 650,000 US dollars. 

When completing this form, your company will act as an independent limited liability company within the framework of the classification of activities. 

It is noted that the creation of a company with a local representative office is much easier than the second option (a foreign investment company), which is due, among other things, to cultural peculiarities. 

It is important to understand the cultural characteristics in Indonesia. The culture of this country values personal connections and trust, so establishing long-term relationships with partners and customers is a key element of success. Business meetings often begin with informal conversations, and only then move on to discussing business.

In addition, local traditions and customs play an important role. For example, the concept of "ramé", meaning a state of harmony and collective well-being, often permeates business ethics. This highlights the importance of teamwork and avoiding conflicts in business.

It is important to understand that in Indonesia, the collective prevails over the individual, and planning is unpredictable. For example, your result will depend on people for whom the basic picture of the world does not provide a beacon responsible for achievement and success. 

Collective systematic work is more important than the result, which must meet a certain deadline. This characteristic feature of the market is noted by InvestinAsia. 

There are more than 230 million Muslims in Indonesia. This is 87% of the population.  For entrepreneurs, this means one thing — building marketing strategies for businesses should take into account cultural and ethical norms in advertising.Obviously, it is pointless to launch too revealing women's clothing on the way out in a Muslim country, unlike luxurious home clothes. Companies that are somehow connected with the production of meat products should pay special attention. 

For example, when bringing a superfood manufacturer to the Indonesian market, our team, along with the product range, emphasized marketing and the availability of halal certification from MUI — Majelis Ulama Indonesia. 

Of course, in Indonesia, as in another more or less liberal country, there is no concept of an “Islamic economy”, however, Muslims derive their ethical system from the teachings of the Koran, and for many Europeans or Western-oriented expats, Islam is equal to an anti-capitalist model of the device, which is obviously wrong, but the promotion of their goods in these countries And in particular, Indonesia needs to be built differently: with the calculation of the economic model of not just the Southeastern market, but specifically the Muslim one. 

To create just such a marketing strategy, you need to know all the main Muslim holidays and their features. For example, Ramadan means a complete business shutdown. At this time, only critical enterprises are operating, the rest of the companies freeze for 30 days. 

Knowing the cultural characteristics of this religion, you will easily understand which startup will be easier to adapt to local norms. 

The market structure in Islam has its own unique characteristics, such as the type of products, the rate of return and the nature of transactions. These characteristics pave the way for various marketing strategy philosophies to conform to this Islamic system of values and ethics.

Marketing tools should reflect the value of the community and send the consumer to the idea of respecting elders, parents. Even in the case of children's products, less emphasis should be placed on children as decision makers.

The acceptance of certain types of food, clothing, and behavior often depends on religion, and such influence can also extend to the acceptance or rejection of advertising integrations. For example, in Islamic countries, if too much attention is paid to body functions in advertising, the strategy will be considered immoral or inappropriate, and the products will be rejected. The sale and trade of certain "illegal" goods, such as wine and pork, is prohibited for Muslims. Any potential Muslim buyer is deprived of the opportunity to derive any benefit or pleasure from these goods, and the likely contract will be invalid due to illegality.

Knowing these features, the marketer should focus on localization. 

Localization is not only a translation into a local language, it is a complete cultural assimilation at the level of all elements of the regional designer: business etiquette, adaptation of a global marketing strategy, learning the color code and using it in social networks or branding your product, communicating with a local consumer in his language. For example, in Indonesia, the color red is considered especially lucky, which will be greeted more kindly in advertising campaigns. 

Speaking of languages, it is important to take into account the colonial past in Indonesia, which belonged to the Netherlands, which is why Dutch loanwords can still be found here. 

For you, as the founder of the project, this may mean a sensitive attitude to the country's past and an obvious rejection of any associations with the Dutch protectorate. 

Indonesia gained independence in 1945. The use of this fact and the support of the people of the island state, liberated from the conquerors, is one of those factors that will definitely position you in a positive way towards the local market. 

At the moment, more than 700 languages are spoken in Indonesia, the official language of Bahasa Indonesia, which is exactly what is needed to communicate with a local buyer. 

The Indonesian market is highly competitive. There are both major local players such as PT Astra International and PT Indofood, as well as international companies seeking to gain a foothold in the market. But this does not mean at all that local companies have a greater advantage due to their in-depth knowledge of the region, the local market and culture. 

When foreign investors enter the Indonesian market, they have a comparative advantage — that is, they can assess the environment in their home country or in the country where they have been doing business for a long time, and the local business model. 

Thus, it is most likely that the alien companies will create a unique product in a new place that will have no competitors among local companies. 

If we talk about competition, the Southeast Asian market is the most promising for those who are creating tech startups right now. The density of competition here is much lower than in the United States, as the country belongs to a developing region with a rapidly growing middle class, which has become possible thanks to a stable economy, urbanization and an increase in income levels.  This is confirmed by the well-known consulting company McKinsey & Company and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

At the moment, startups and accelerators are actively developing in the country: 

The most famous companies are unicorns: 

  1. Gojek: A multi-service application that provides services from taxi and food delivery to financial services and payments. 
  2. Tokopedia: One of the largest online retailers in Indonesia, offering a trading platform for both large and small sellers.
  3. Traveloka: An online platform for booking flights, hotels and other travel services. 
  4. Bukalapak: Another major e-commerce platform in Indonesia that offers products from a wide range of sellers.
  5. OVO: Fintech is a company offering digital payments and financial solutions, including e-wallets and payment systems.
  6. J&T Express: A logistics company specializing in the delivery and express delivery of goods.

There are also several startup accelerators in Indonesia that help young companies develop and attract investments. Here are some of the most famous accelerators in Indonesia:

  1. Plug and Play Indonesia: This accelerator is part of the global Plug and Play network and offers support to startups in various fields, including fintech, smart cities and healthy eating. 
  2. GK-Plug and Play Indonesia: A joint venture between Plug and Play and a local Greenhouse company, providing support to early-stage startups in various sectors, including fintech, smart cities, logistics and healthcare.
  3. Indigo Creative Nation: An accelerator launched by Indonesia's largest telecommunications company Telkom Indonesia. It focuses on technology startups and offers various programs, including acceleration and incubation.
  4. Kejora Ventures: A venture capital and accelerator offering startups early-stage support, mentoring and access to an extensive network of investors and corporate partners in Southeast Asia.
  5. Startup Studio Indonesia: An acceleration program supported by the Government of Indonesia, which aims to help startups in the field of technology. The program provides access to mentoring, training, and investments.
  6. Mekari Innovator Lab: An accelerator focused on fintech and small business startups, providing access to resources, mentoring and networking opportunities.
  7. BLOCK71 Jakarta: A joint project of NUS Enterprise and Salim Group, which provides an ecosystem of support to startups in the field of technology and innovation.

These accelerators play an important role in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in Indonesia by offering access to the capital, mentoring, and networks necessary for the growth and success of startups.

Indonesia, as an archipelago, faces unique logistical challenges. The huge number of islands (over 17,000) complicates the transportation of goods and requires a developed infrastructure. Although the Government is actively investing in the development of roads, ports and airports, there is still a lack of infrastructure in some regions of the country, which can lead to delays and increased logistics costs.

For businesses, this means careful planning and selection of logistics partners, as well as the use of digital technologies to optimize supply chains. At the same time, the development of digital infrastructure, especially in large cities, contributes to the growth of e-commerce and provides new business opportunities.

Indonesia's digital transformation is in full swing, and it opens up new business opportunities. Indonesia is one of the fastest growing e-commerce markets in the world, with projected annual growth of 34% through 2025. With the increasing penetration of the Internet and the increasing number of smartphone users, more and more consumers prefer online shopping.

This creates favorable conditions for the development of not only e-commerce, but also fintech, mobile payments and digital services. However, companies must take into account the characteristics of Indonesian consumers' behavior in the digital environment, such as a preference for cash payments and trust in local brands.

Thus, it is obvious that the Indonesian market offers huge opportunities for growth and development, but also requires companies to understand local characteristics and adapt to them. Taking into account economic development, cultural differences, infrastructural challenges and digital transformation, companies can successfully enter the Indonesian market and take a leading position in it.